Ah! We will walk or take public transportation just about anywhere. The only food we don't like is Indian and our price point is around $30 and under per entree, tho higher is okay if the food is wonderful. Our hotel is on S. Alfred St., if that's any help - looks to be 7 or 8 blocks to old town.

My husband and I tried Schlessinger's for lunch on Sunday and were favorably impressed. The deli is owned by Philly condo maven Alan Domb and offers a nice selection of hot and cold dishes. My husband loved his roast beef special, which was absolutely loaded with rare roast beef. I had a scrambled egg, munchee cheese, and turkey bacon wrap that was scrumptious. We shared a black & white for dessert. For us, the gold standard is Juniors', in NYC, but this was a close second - fresh, cakey, plenty of chocolate and white glaze.

As chirsh noted, portions are generous and our sandwich and wrap were quick to come to the table. There's also a complimentary pickle bar with pickled peppers, several types of cucumber pickles, and potato, health, and macaroni salad.

I hope that Schlessinger's is successful, because there are many more menu items we want to try. This place is an asset to Center City. Thanks, chirsh, for the recommendation!

My husband and I often find a place we love when we travel and return to it again and again, just like you did. We're staying in Center City this coming weekend and will try Schlesinger's, which sounds great. There are all the pizza joints you could ask for downtown but a dearth of Jewish deli's, so for us, this will be an occasion!

Ralph's is a run-of-the-mill red gravy joint and extremely noisy; you'd have to scream at each other to be heard. Others here have given you better suggestions. I'll add two: La Locanda Del Ghittone - BYO and they take reservations, and Mr. Martino's, in South Philly, also BYO.

For the birthday dinner: La Famiglia - expensive and befitting a special occasion. To the other restaurants mentioned here, I'll add Salento and Radicchio, both BYO's. If you choose a BYO, call ahead to determine whether they take reservations.

You might want to hit the Reading Terminal Market for a very casual lunch on Saturday.

I recently had a similar experience at Ernesto's. My minestrone soup was absolutely devoid of flavor and the crabcake was bland. My husband did like his large serving of salmon with pesto (loves anything with pesto. We both adore the zuppa inglese - the best anywhere. If only everything else lived up to it!